HC Deb 01 February 1996 vol 270 cc1113-4
9. Mr. Nicholas Winterton

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the National Farmers Union to discuss milk quotas and the Potato Marketing Board. [11273]

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I regularly meet representatives of the National Farmers Union to discuss issues of importance to them.

Mr. Winterton

A brief response from my right hon. and learned Friend. Are not the United Kingdom's climate and agricultural land ideal for the production of milk and the growing of potatoes? Is it not vital that we do not rely upon set-aside as a long-term income for farmers, and that we fully and properly utilise our agricultural land? At the next meeting of Agriculture Ministers, will my right hon. and learned Friend therefore press for additional quota for milk producers? Will he ensure that the proposed development council for the potato industry is properly representative of the growers?

Mr. Hogg

Our long-term objective is certainly to do away with price support systems and restraints on production. In the shorter term, we are arguing within the European Union for much greater transferability of milk quota between member states, and we shall continue to do so.

Dr. Strang

On the subject of the European milk regime, I thank the Minister for placing in the Library the request that the British Government made two years ago for permission to continue to receive European funds for milk in our secondary schools and for school meals. Did he agree with that approach? Did he agree with what the then Minister of State, now the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said about those payments being important for the nutrition of our schoolchildren? If so, why is he stopping those funds now?

Mr. Hogg

That question shows that the Labour party is not serious about reducing public expenditure and, therefore, is not serious in its pretensions to reduce taxation. We must see whether public money is being spent properly. We came to the conclusion that it was not in that case. That was the correct conclusion. The hon. Gentleman's question shows, yet again, that Labour says one thing and does another.